Combined collapsible bucket and funnel.



J. FLITGRAFT. COMBINED OOLLAPSIBLE BUCKET AND FUNNEL.

AP-PLIGATION FILED DEO.11, 1911.

1 ,122,581. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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COMBINED COLLAPSIBLE BUCKET AND FUNNEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 11, 1911. fierial No. 665,185.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. FLI'roRArT, a

citizen of the United States of America, and

resident of St. Charles, Madison county, Iowa, have invented a new and useful Combined Collapsible Bucket and Funnel, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to prov de an improved collapsible container whlch also possesses the properties of a funnel and is adapted to be employed to convey llquld to a place of deposit, such as the radiator of an automobile.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved foldable means for filllng the radiator of an automobile.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved collapsible bucket and funnel having a valve-controlled outlet or discharge.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective of the complete device. lower portion of the device, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the indicated line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a de tail vertical section on the indicated line 11 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of another form of valve device.

In the construction of the device as shown the numeral 10 designates a frame, preferably composed of a wire ring. A flexible container 11, preferably made of canvas, sheet rubber or the like, is fixed at its upper margin to the ring 10, as by stitching. The flexible container 11 is of funnel shape or tapering symmetrically from its upper to its lower margin. A bail 12, is provided and preferably is made of flexible material, such as tape or a stitched strip of canvas. The bail 12 is secured at its ends to diametrically opposite points of the upper margin of the container 11. A tube 13 is formed with a flaring upper end 1?) conforming to the size and shape of the lower end of the flexible container and is mounted therein and projects through a hole in the lower end of said container. The projecting portion of the tube 13 is exteriorly threaded and a cap 14 is screwed thereon. The cap 14 is provided Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the with a flaring upper end portion conformmg to the flare 13 of the tube, and the lower margin of the container 11 is adapted to be received and firmly held between the flares 13 and 14 to form a water-tight connection when the cap is screwed in place. The tube 13 is formed with an inturned flange 15 on its lower margin and a flap valve 16 is mounted in the cap 14: and overlaid at its margins by said flange. The flap valve 16 is provided with a disk 16 cut out from its central portion and the cap 14 is formed with a central aperture 17 beneath said disk. A weight 18 is fixed to the upper face of the disk 16 as by a screw 19 and is adapted to hold said diskdown in closing relation. A loop 20 is fixed to the upper surface of the weight 18. A releasing tape 21 is fixed at its lower end to the loop 20, extends upwardly through the container, and is fixed at its upper end to the central portion of the bail 12, preferably by stitching. The tape 21 preferably is just long enough so that the hinged disk 16 will lie flat in its seat when the container 11 and bail are fully extended, and a slight lateral movement of said tape will be sufficient to raise sai disk.

In practical use liquid such as water is placed within the container 11 and carried to the desired place ofdeposit, such as an automobile radiator. The lower end of the device is superposed relative to the inlet of the receptacle to be filled and the valve is opened by a slight lateral movement of or pull on the upper. end of the tape 21, which has the effect of raising the loop 20, weight 18 and hinged disk 16* and permitting the discharge of the water through the tube 13 and orifice 17 of the cap. The device may then be folded flat and carried orstored in any convenient place, such as under the seat cushion or in the tool box of an automobile. The use of this device dispenses with the necessity of carrying a separate container and funnel, and makes for accuracy and despatch in introducing water into the radiator. It is simple and inexpensive and parts may readily be replaced as found necessary.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the cap 14 is formed with a valve chamber 22 opening downward through the opening 17 and provided with an inturned flange 23 at its upper end. A metal valve 24: is mounted on and isfitted to the upper surface of the flange 23. A housing 25 is mounted Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

rigidly on andrises from the valve chamber 22 and incloses the valve 24 loosely. The housing 25 is formed with slots 26 in its wall and a central opening 27 in its top. The slots 26 permit water to How from the container 11 into the housing and the opening 27 permits the tape 21 to pass through the top of the housing and be attached to a loop or eye 28 on the valve. Otherwise the construction and-operation is as above described.

I claim as my invention 1. A device of the class described and comprising a rigid rim, a funnel shaped receptacle of pliable material, a rigid cylindrical downward extension thereon, a valve in said extension, a pliable bail secured to sai'drim and a pliable strap operatively connected with said valve and secured to said bail near the center thereof.

2. In a collapsible funnel, a pliable portion 11 having a rigid rim l0 and provided with a screw threaded metallic outlet 13 having a flange 13 a screw threaded cap for said outlet, a valve in said screw threaded cap, a pliable handle for said rim, and a pliable strap attached to the central portion of said handle and to said valve, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

Signed by me at Des Moines, Iowa, this fourth day of November, 1911.

JOHN M. FLITCRAFT. lVitnesses:

S,- C. S EET, EARL M. SINCLAIR- Cbpies of this patent may lie'obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D 0." 

